San Francisco Wants Pharma to pay for a Take-Back Program; Who is Next?

By

Ed Silverman

Oct 22, 2014 11:56 am ET

In a move that is certain to concern the pharmaceutical industry, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors has introduced a bill that would require drug makers to fully fund and administer a citywide drug take-back program. The legislation is aimed at drug makers that sell medicines within the city.

The bill is the first to be introduced by a local government following a federal appeals court ruling requiring drug makers to pay for a take-back program that a California county passed into law two years ago. The decision, which was issued earlier this month, raised the prospect that other local governments may also pursue similar programs and pass the costs on to the pharmaceutical industry.